The British newspaper, The Guardian, has praised the Belgian coast and the tram line that runs along it as “a wonderfully eclectic journey” with “seductive dune landscapes” and “a cinematic journey through the dune landscapes of Belgium”. Journalist Nicky Gardner extolled the “pure cinema” of taking the “kusttram” from Westhoek to Knokke-Heist, describing the 153-minute ride as a “visual feast” with varying landscapes along the way. She also noted the surrealism of the route, with René Magritte’s murals in the Knokke Casino, piers that lead nowhere, and Belle Époque hotels with views now obscured by apartment buildings. Gardner recommended Ostend for its architecture and De Haan for its history and art scene.
”A cinematic journey through the dune landscapes of Belgium”, “seductive dune landscapes”, “a wonderfully eclectic journey”: these are some of the qualifiers that the British newspaper The Guardian used to describe the Belgian coast and especially the journey by tram on the line that runs along the coast.
Nicky Gardner, journalist for The Guardian, indeed extolled the “pure cinema” that constituted this activity, that of taking the “kusttram” from Westhoek, on the French border, to Knokke-Heist, a few not from the Netherlands. “Ride the rails […] it’s a visual feast of 153 minutes”, writes the journalist, who was ecstatic in front of landscapes which vary throughout the journey on the longest tram line in the world. “The whole route is an essay in surrealism, with René Magritte’s magnificent murals in the Knokke Casino, […] the piers that lead nowhere and the hotels of the Belle Époque that have a view of the sea obliterated by apartment buildings,” she continues in her article.
Among the coastal towns that have marked it, Nicky Gardner evokes Ostend, for lovers of architecture, and De Haan, for its history (it is a former poor fishing village) and what the town has become, a place favored for art.
In conclusion, The Guardian’s glowing review of the Belgian coast and the kusttram journey that runs along it highlights a truly unique and captivating experience. With landscapes that range from seductive dune landscapes to architecture that transports visitors back to the Belle Époque era, this tram ride offers a true visual feast. Additionally, the various coastal towns that mark the journey provide visitors with a taste of cultural and historical landmarks that offer an insight into the region’s past and present. Overall, the kusttram ride remains an underrated gem that offers an unforgettable cinematic journey through Belgium’s coastal vistas.
